NEWS RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C.

Wayne Maloney (202) 690-0498
Gail Bennett (304)-284-4875

USDA FARM BILL FORUM SUCCESSFUL
But It's Not Too Late for Your Comments

     MORGANTOWN, W.Va., October 12, 2005--It may have been a little rainy and cool outside, but that did not hinder the successful turnout of the Farm Bill nationwide listening tour held in Elkins, West Virginia, on October 7. Agriculture Under Secretary For Rural Development Tom Dorr and W.Va. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass took a hands-on approach under the direction of Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns in seeking input to the 2007 Farm Bill from West Virginia's farmers, ranchers and rural residents.

     Approximately 175 rural residents of West Virginia attended the Farm Bill Forum and made their comments to the six topics that were identified to provide the framework for the nationwide forums. The six topics can be found at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill. Also, it is not too late to submit your comments if you were not able to attend the forum. Go the website listed above to make your comments, or submit comments by mail to: Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, Farm Bill, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 116A, Washington, D.C., 20250-3355. USDA will review the public comments received by December 30, 2005, including any analyses, reports, studies and other material submitted with the comments.

     West Virginia Rural Development State Director Robert M. Steptoe, III, Farm Service Agency State Executive Director John Rader, and Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Ron Hilliard encourage anyone who was unable to attend the forum to visit the website or write to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and let your voices be heard.

     "The 2007 Farm Bill," Johanns remarked, "will affect America's entire agricultural community, so I believe our entire agricultural community should have a say in the process. I welcome input from across the nation about what is working and what we can do to improve farm policy."

     USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development has invested over $54 billion since the beginning of the Bush Administration to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. As a result, over one million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office, by visiting the West Virginia Rural Development web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/al. or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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